Tag

husband

Slim Jims & Nuts Beer Mug & Sunday’s Best Linky

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Today is Valentine’s Day, a day for love & romance. It is also a day that I scramble to try to figure out what kind of gift to buy my husband. Hallmark, Russell Stover’s and every jewelry store and flower shop in town are kept busy with the swarms of boyfriends and husbands grabbing their clichéd Valentine’s trinkets for their wives at home. The men have it easy. It is us women that have to play the guessing game. There will be no stuffed animals or lip shaped chocolates being given to my husband. Perhaps if they made stuffed animals stuffed with bacon or chocolate covered beer cordials this might fly, but otherwise no. Luckily for me, the Patriots made things easy this year & won the Superbowl, which opened up my gift list to Patriots’ paraphernalia. Thanks guys. I owe you one. Before the Pats’ brought home the victory, Mai & I had another idea in mind for our favorite guy.

Slim Jims & Nuts Beer Mug

Tape two canisters of nuts together.

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Tape a string of mini Slim Jims together so that they are even. I used 16 of them.

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Wrap the Slim Jims around the outside of the canisters with the label facing the outside. Secure with a rubber band & then tape into place.

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On a piece of construction paper, cut out an oval & write your message.

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Mat it to another piece of construction. Dab the back edges of the paper with a glue gun & secure.

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Cut out a handle shape . Bend the edge of the paper that will secure to the mug & lightly glue into place with a glue gun. Add cotton or tissue paper to the top for the foam.

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Now on to to our link-up. Welcome to week 7 of the Sunday’s Best Link-Up.

Welcome to Week 7 of  Mother 2 Mother’s Sunday’s Best Linkup Each month we will feature a theme, this month the theme is Love Is In the Air. Smooches! Please share your favorite posts on anything or anyone that you love. This can be recipes, Valentine’s crafts, scrapbook layouts, how you met your husband or significant other, your children, how you spend Valentine’s Day etc. You decide.  


Don’t have posts that fit into the theme, link up whatever post you would like to share. Anything goes here. You may link as many posts as you would like. Each week a post will be selected and featured the following week.  An image from your post will be used on my blog the following week with a link back to your blog.  Be sure to check back to see if you’re the Sunday’s Best featured blogger of the week. 



Please meet my new co-host, Kim, and her beautiful daughter from Pinterested Parent. Kim shared a great post last week Pasta Love Bug Crafts. They are adorable and perfect for rainy or snowy day. Please check it out and connect with her.  


           Rhonda – Mother 2 Mother                                  Kim – Pinterested Parent




If you are interested in co-hosting the next Sunday’s Best linkup, please contact me for details.   

Get your post(s) ready for March.  The theme is Spring Forward. We’re looking for spring crafts, Easter decorating ideas, Easter tablescapes, recipes, anything that you love to do in the spring and would like to share.  



Here’s the rules, please connect with Kim and Me on social media before you leave or subscribe to our blogs :  


Mother 2 Mother: Please like my 
Facebook Page, follow me on Twitter,  Google+, PinterestBlogLovin or subscribe/join my blog on the right before you leave.   



The Pinterested Parent: Please like Kim’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Bloglovin before you leave.  




 

Mother 2 Mother Blog

One last thing before we get the party started, please grab the Sunday’s Best button above and place it on your sidebar or Tweet the linkup using the hashtag #SundaysBest. I appreciate your help in promoting the linkup with Re-tweets and shares.  




The Sunday’s Best Posts are:

 



Kim selected 15 Pretty In Pink Valentine’s Day Treats by – Dreaming of Leaving


and 


 

 I selected Peanut Butter Hearts by – Dabbling Momma 
All of the posts were great, and I appreciate each of you linking up.  We honestly had a hard time making selections, and would like to invite all of you back to linkup your post again this week. While your’re here take a minute to visit these great blog and connect with Jessica and Susen.  These ladies are quite crafty.   


Now, lets link up those posts and be sure to visit a few other bloggers who have posted while you’re here. This is a great way to meet and connect with new bloggers. Be sure to PIN or share any posts that you like, we all appreciate a little love.     


 

15 Reasons That My Husband Is Like Our Toddler

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Once upon a time not so long ago I had a sweet little mama’s girl. One day she woke up and decided that mommy was old news & that daddy was the new headliner. It stung a little, alright it stung a lot, but it made perfect sense. I am not nearly as much fun as daddy is. They do have a lot in common after all & I am not just talking about the blond hair, blue eyes and dimples.

1. They both have a keen sense of fashion. 

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2. They think farts are funny.

3. They both have a hard time getting their pee into the toilet.

4. Neither one listens to me when I speak.

5. They would both prefer to run around the house naked.

6. They think Doritos & jelly beans are an acceptable lunch.

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7. Neither has an issue wearing stained clothing.

8. They both laugh at there own jokes.

9. Both get cranky when they haven’t had a nap.

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10. Neither one will eat their vegetables.

11. They both like Elsa from Frozen.

12. They leave crumbs everywhere.

13. I have to remind them both to brush their teeth.

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14. They both will eat food that fell on the ground.

15. Most importantly, they both love me.

Check out Living In Momarchy’s list of 12 things her toddler & dogs have in common.

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A Football Widow’s Rant

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My favorite time of year is rapidly approaching. When autumn comes it brings with it a colorful palette of falling leaves, fresh crisp air, all things pumpkin flavored & Halloween. I love everything about the fall except one thing…

It’s Football season! For the next 17 weeks (possibly more if we make it to playoffs, gasp…), I will be in mourning. I will officially be a football widow. 

Here is the thing. I am not that cool wife. You will not find me on the couch in a sexy Pats tank chugging beers with the guys, screaming obscenities at the TV, listing 101 reasons why Peyton Manning sucks, all while I wait for my Buffalo wings to finish cooking. I am not that girl. Lord knows I have tried. My husband tries to get me involved. He will talk to me about the game, explain what is happening & will even go as far as ask me crazy questions about players and their stats as if I have these answers stored in my ass and have just been waiting to pull them out at the right time. I have gone to the games, read up on the rules, listened to my husband talk about it over & over & over again. Guess what? I still think football sucks. I just don’t give a crap about it. 1st down, 2nd down, holding, what the ?$*k! does it all mean? 

As soon as football season starts, my husband gets a wandering eye. It wanders to the television & stays there. I could dance naked in front of the TV with bacon draped over me & he would just say, “Babe, you’re blocking the game.” The fact is I just can’t compete with Tom Brady. I will never win 3 Super Bowls or be able to throw a 50 yard pass. Unless, I get surgery I will never have his cleft chin. I am quite certain if Tom Brady grew a set of breasts my husband might consider leaving me for him. He might even do it without the breasts… Let’s face it, the man is handsome.

So what is a wife to do?

Here is the great thing about being a football widow. You are not alone. There are other women out there that hate football just as much as you do. Find them! You can bond over your mutual hatred for this sport. Set up much needed girl dates or play dates with the kids.

Find your own hobby or interests during the season. It’s fall crafting time. Mai & I will have plenty of projects to keep us busy on Sundays & Monday nights. 

Suck it up. Sometimes you just want to spend time with your hubby. Cuddle up on the couch & watch with him. Maybe you have been wrong the first 40 years of your life & you actually do like football. P.S. Beer makes it more bearable.

Luckily, our daughter loves watching sports with her daddy, so she will not wind up a football orphan.

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The Thing About Parenting Is…

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We all do it differently, but have the same goal.

Our other relationships & even our selves will take a backseat

We all want to be the best parents that we can be.

We will have days that we feel like super-mom or dad & there will be days that we feel as if we are failures.

It can be frustrating, exhausting & rewarding all in a matter of just moments.

You will judge other parents even if you don’t mean too. (Admit it, you do)

You always worry.

You will make mistakes.

Nobody warns you just how hard it is or maybe you just weren’t listening.

Time goes by quicker than it did before you had children.

You will accidentally injure your child at some point.

It is full of surprises.

You will get pooped on or peed on.

You will have disagreements with your spouse on how to raise your children.

You always want to talk about your kids, even if no one wants to listen.

You will not always have all the answers.

It makes you appreciate your parents more.

You see bits of yourself in your children & it is not always good thing.

You can hardly remember what life was like before you had kids.

It makes you redefine your ideas of a clean house.

You waste a lot of food.

You will always love your children, but you might not always like them.

You understand unconditional love.

It is a full time job, but the best career choice you will ever make.

It is beautiful!

 

What is parenting to you?

7 Stages Of PMS – A Husband’s Helpful Guide

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I am having a bad week. I started a cool new job, I no longer have to work evenings, I have more time with my family. It doesn’t sound so bad does it, well it is. The monthly ritual of misery & mood swings has reared it’s ugly head. For the past two days my poor husband can do no right. Last night I was particularly ornery & told him that he needed to pen a book on what not to say when your wife is pre-menstrual. Since it is highly unlikely that he is going to compose this helpful bit of literature, I thought that I would help out instead.
If you are one of the fortunate men out there that is not married to a victim of PMS, read on anyways many of these stages are seen in pregnancy as well.

 

1. The emotional stage: Guys, we know that we are oversensitive & emotional during this time. It does not need to be pointed out to us. I can cry at the drop of a hat. I broke down in tears last night because my daughter wouldn’t eat her peirogis. Is this a bit of an over-reaction? The answer is no…just go with it.
What you can do: Be ready with a box of Kleenex and avoid Lifetime & the Hallmark channel.

 

2. Irritability: I am typically a lovely person, but for about 3-4 days out of the month I turn into a miserable flesh eating monster. A former co-worker of mine used to lock herself in her office for days until I was over the worst of it. Sorry Michelle.
What you can do: Say nothing! If you open your mouth, it will almost certainly bring forth a tidal wave of rage. If you must speak, these are the only acceptable phrases, Can I …give you a foot rub, bring you some wine, take care of the baby so you can nap?

 

3. Hunger: My belly is rumbling as I type this. I am a bottomless pit that is stuffed full of chocolate, frozen yogurt & any comfort foods that I can get my chocolate covered paws on. DO NOT point out how much I am eating.
What you can do: Go get me a bag of chips..no really, go get me one. I’m starving.

 

4. Bloating & weight gain: If you are not already cranky & emotional enough, try on a pair of jeans. What once was just a little muffin top has changed into more of a pound cake.
What you can do: Roll back the weight on the scale and tell me that you accidentally shrunk the laundry.

 

5. Fatigue: As the mother of a toddler, I am tired all the time to begin with. Add the crimson tide to the mix & I might as well be sleep walking. Yaaaaaawn!
What you can do: “Honey, let me get up with the baby, You go back to sleep.” Ahhhh, that’s nice, but I am still mad at you for absoluuuutely nothing.

 

6. Cramping: Here is my favorite part of it all. The mind numbing pain almost makes me forget about all the rest of it.
What you can do: Trade bodies with me for the day

 

7. The Gassy phase: There I said it..I fart a lot during my cycle. It is not pretty or sexy but it is true. I hold it in at work all day & once I finally get home, it sounds like test day at the Kazoo factory.
What you can do: Hide all the cans of beans, broccoli or other gas producing edibles. Do not laugh & ask me if I just farted? Do not start a “Mommy farted” chant with our daughter.

 

Follow these simple rules & we can all get out of the next few days unscathed.

 

Related Topics:

http://nodivingintheshallowend.wordpress.com/2014/02/25/emotional-rollercoasters/

Keeping The Romance After Kids

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It is February. Valentine’s Day is only 2 weeks away. Love is in the air. Everywhere you look there are frilly pink hearts and half naked cherubs armed with arrows. My husband & I are planning our big night out as husband & wife and not just mommy and daddy.

It is occurs to me that it is such a shame that we have to wait until Valentine’s Day to finally get away for a little romance. It is easy for your relationship to take a backseat after you have a child. All the focus turns to them.

It is very important to remember that before you were parents, you were husband & wife.

My husband & I are guilty of this as well. We definitely do not set enough time aside for ourselves. We are always tired or working or busy chasing Mai.

So what can a busy couple do to keep that spark alive?

1. Try to set time aside to date each other. Even if it is every couple of months, make the time for date night. Again we are guilty of not doing this enough but I am going to make a plan to do this more.

2. Kiss often. My hubs & I still kiss every day.

3. Be each other’s best friend. My husband & I just get each other. We always have. We have inside jokes. We crack movie quotes with one another. He is the first person I want to talk to when I have good news, bad news or juicy gossip.

4. Say I love you & mean it. Say it before bed or before you go to work. If you think it during the day at work, send him/her a text. I love getting “I love you” messages while I am work. Nothing puts a bigger smile on my face.

5. Enjoy your time together as a family. We do not get a lot of time together as a family because of our work schedules. When we do get a chance to be together, it is amazing. Nothing makes me fall in love with my husband more than watching him with our little girl.

6. Cuddle. I love snuggle time on the couch.

7. Flirt with each other. Just because you are an “old” married couple doesn’t mean that you can’t still be playful with one another. Give your spouse a little pat on the behind. Complement each other & don’t forget to still giggle at his jokes.

8. Hold hands. We hold hands while driving in the car or walking together.

9. Communicate. Air your grievances. Do not let things fester & grow. It leads to resentment & hard feelings. Strong communication is key. Always talk with your spouse.

10. Doll yourself up. Remember when you first started dating? You always tried to look & act your best. Attraction to the physical appearance is usually the first thing that draws us together. It is easy to get comfortable & forget this.

11. Look through old photos. Not as if you have forgotten, but looking through old photos or watching your wedding video together is a nice way to remember what it was that made you fall in love with each other in the beginning.

One of my favorite quotes about marriage is “A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” Mignon McLaughlin

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Find a reason to fall in love with your spouse daily.

What do you do to keep your romance alive? Please share your marriage secrets.

Related Topics:

http://mrsbartons.wordpress.com/2014/01/31/making-marriage-last/

http://couplescounselingportlandblog.wordpress.com/2014/01/31/marry-who-you-cant-live-without/

http://8wdee.com/2014/01/31/marriage-is-not-a-word/

Daddy’s Slow Cooker Turkey Soup

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I am going to gush for just a moment about my husband. I like to poke fun of him a lot in my posts. He is a really good sport about it. I tease about him being a “Yes daddy”, which he is, but he is the best “Yes daddy” out there. The truth is my husband is amazing. I often don’t give him enough credit for all that he does for the family. Lord knows, I am not always a picnic to be around, but he is consistently loving & supportive and I adore him for it.

Let me let you in on a little secret, I am not the greatest home maker. After the birth of our daughter, my housekeeping skills have become virtually non-existent. Thankfully, my husband helps with the household duties. He does the laundry & I hate doing it. I clean the bathrooms and floors & he rarely picks up a broom. We have a great balance for keeping our happy, messy home.

We also share in cooking duties. This weekend daddy did all the cooking. He made two of his specialties. He made his family recipe for venison mostaccioli, which unfortunately I can’t share & he made his famous crock pot turkey soup.

I am not much of a soup fan. It has never been a meal that excited me or filled me up, but my hubby’s soup is hearty & delicious and I love it. It is also a healthy and low fat meal option for those watching their diets.

Slow Cooker Turkey Soup

Ingredients:

Leftover turkey carcass (12-14 lbs starting weight)

3 whole celery stalks

3 whole & peeled carrots

2 whole medium onions (peeled)

2 bay leaves

1 tsp dried minced garlic

1/2 tsp coarse ground black pepper

1/4 tsp celery salt

1 tbsp chicken bouillon powder

1 tbsp salt

1 15 oz can of Veg-all (mixed vegetable blend)

1 14.5 oz can of chicken broth

1 2.25 oz pack of dry noodle soup mix (Lipton or store brand)

1/2 cup of pearled barley

Place all ingredients except last 4 to the bottom of a 6.5 quart slow cooker, with the carcass being added last. Fill the slow cooker with water. Cook on low for 6-7 hours. After 6-7 hours, strain the loose meat, whole vegetables & bones. Pick out the bones carefully, return the meat. Chop up the cooked carrots & celery stalks and add to slow cooker. Add the remainder of the ingredients & cook on low for 1 more hour.

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The soup was delicious as always. Our picky girl even enjoyed two bowls. Thanks daddy.

Up Next: Don’t Forget Your Furry Babies

Related Topics:

http://mobitesfood.com/2013/12/09/thai-vegetarian-minestrone-a-soup-for-all-seasons/

http://theculinarycapers.com/2013/12/07/best-tomato-soup-i-ever-ate-how-to-make-awesome-grilled-cheese/

http://whatsintheoven.wordpress.com/2013/12/07/bacon-cheeseburger-soup/

http://meggsalad.com/2013/12/07/creamy-butternut-cauliflower-soup-with-chicken-and-kale/